New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-17
JAMES WEBBS LONG LIFE.
HIS CONNECTION WITH TIE AsToR EsrATE-rArLY
EXPERIENCES.

HIS CONNECTION WITH TIE AsTOR EsrArE-rAELf
ExPERIENcEs
The lie of james Webb. tho Nestor OF tue
building trade OF this city. whose death on
Friday was recorded in The TRIBUNE yes
terday is fall of incidents illustrating the
navy changes that this city under went derins his
long and useful lie. He born in 1900 In War
ren-st. and was apprentoed to boz mason when he
wa. thirteen years aud n halt old The ceremony oil
binding apprentice in those DAYS was M impoAnR
one. Young Webb was solemnly escorted 10y his boss
into the presence police magistrate who had M
Office in the basement of the City Hall. and there the
lad was bound over 10 hs boss until NJ twenty
.ne wears old At that time there whipping post
1. broadway near the City Hall and Mr. Webb often
related to his friends in later days how he had seen
many mon publicly whipped thore untn the oiood
ran The post consisted oil n raised platform through
which a pole was raised from the ground Criminais
were tied to tho pole and deputy sheriff laid on the
lasbea Mr. wobb's parents wero unable to give him
an education and be had TO get his schooling himself
Por some little time he went 70 school to woman
who ipstruoted him for shilling week iatot ne
wa. alb, TO nav AN old-tnshOned sohoolpaster % oO
n quarter. In the meantime he occasiona'iy iouEu
time TO enjoy himself by skating la the winter on me
co nal where Caual ST. il He used 10 skate under
the stone bridge the canal at broadWay
around to Ccntre-st to the Collect marsh where the
1on,bs stands. 49, go.
MIR Webb conducted neatly all the building opera
tions for the Astor family Iii. connection with tte
A.tors began when he was twcntyiour years Old
He assisted "a building John Jacob Astors small oihce
in Prince-st laying ia bricks Of tho ftont "Aii
bimselL over fifty ycais afterwerd when John jacob
Aslor decided 10 pull down tho old Office and other
Old buildings IN Broadway, Mercer and Pnnce sts'
nrepnrator, to putting uips-stor buiiuing VIII
I, row occupied by Rogers. Pret Co, MI "eb' oo-
,.ued I q contract The old contractor was rirhtVohe
wears of bot cel-bHt-d the event IN true ola on
siy. He pict fy OF the boat bricks ara putting
an hs old ashl0n- wGtr apron that biirkhb erS No'o
In oldrn time, laid tue NIFTY brick. on "" ne" Nah
within the time allowed for trstins the abilities Oh h'I
class iournrymrn. 49, a, mn. ,,o orlr
build,ug in the n -ighbOfhooi. There were 'ew nud
ings along froa IVA h,tw Canal and CbfnDer' SIS
IRON thnt point up broadway Was called D"'onInk
dale roai" Jonn jacob Astor then livoi IN bioiiAay
nhsrs the Astor House STANDS aud MS famous ,u
.orr stood on Che spot wh,To tho kchen OF tue noei
placed. , mt, nm, bc
In tsose DAYS Mr. Webb WINS strong wing ana NC
seryrd IIs psriy twice Assistant Alderman IRON lhe
E,yhth ward In Mayor woodndlrs tmr-an oncu ionR
sucr a,olls ncd--aDd itom the ho'ehlh lfa io
Adrru eu npid their meetings alter ihry nhe hI."p ~
their bnsnrss for the dag. generally rbout oc"cn ~
tho CITY Hall After the ,~ssion til" Y shr wo" rhs
tIe base urpt and had Ia, ANA = slirb uhrhroh im'
wss all the pay the Ad"rmen got 10 ,nors ear, of
nut Mr. Webb often quAntlt rrfD"ihcu Ipat " '"' NV"
than tho Alderman OF 1884 deserved